The annual Children's Stamp Campaign kicks off on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Children's Stamps initiative. At St. Joseph's School in Leiden, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet unveiled the stamp, which 130,000 children will be using to go door-to-door across the country this week. This anniversary year, the Children's Stamps initiative is introducing a very special interactive stamp: a personal video message can be recorded and sent via a QR code. Proceeds from the Children's Stamp Campaign will support various projects that strengthen children's resilience and provide them with support, such as a safe place, a buddy, or school supplies. The Children's Stamp Campaign runs until October 2, 2024.
At St. Joseph's School in Leiden, the city where Kinderpostzegels is based, children's idol Klaas van Kruistum hosted the celebratory gathering where Princess Margriet unveiled the new Kinderpostzegels and placed the first order. The 7th-grade children asked the Princess questions and sang her the song "Superkracht" (Super Power), created in collaboration with the pop group NXT from Kinderen voor Kinderen and Armin van Buuren to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kinderpostzegels.
First stamp with a personal message
Specially for the 100th anniversary, the first children's stamp with a personal message has been designed and issued by PostNL. Using a QR code, the sender can record a personal video message for the recipient, making receiving mail even more enjoyable. The stamp features a trampoline, symbolizing the safety net and springboard that many children in difficult situations lack. In addition to the children's stamps, products such as a shopper bag, a bandage tin, and various cards designed by card partner Hallmark are also available door-to-door and online . One-time donations are also possible.
Support for children desperately needed
Support for the Children's Stamps is more important than ever: over 230,000 children in the Netherlands currently live in poverty, and 1 in 4 children has a parent struggling with addiction or mental health issues. In addition, 1 in 8 children receives youth care. It's crucial for these children to receive the necessary support and learn skills that help them cope with difficult circumstances.
Sofie Vriends, director of the Children's Stamps campaign, emphasizes: "For 100 years, we have been working with children to help children who are struggling. Children who lack the necessary support and stability to be resilient and participate with their peers. The lack of a strong safety net has significant consequences for their development. With the proceeds from the Children's Stamp campaign, we offer direct assistance, such as school supplies, a safe place, or even loving attention in the form of a buddy. We also support programs that help them become more resilient and expand their potential. Thanks to the efforts of their peers, we can ensure that hundreds of thousands of children have the opportunity to develop healthily."
Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL: "For a century, we've been working with Kinderpostzegels to help children who need it so much, and I'm incredibly proud of that. Every year, we do our best to create a special Kinderpostzegel, and this anniversary year is extra special. For the first time, you can record a personal video message with a stamp. With these Kinderpostzegels, you bring your mail to life and contribute to equal opportunities for children."
More information about the children's stamp campaign
